St. George leaders sworn into office Monday - Baton Rouge news - NewsLocker (2024)

ST. GEORGE - Nearly twenty years after the community of Central incorporated, St. George followed suit and is now the fifth largest city in Louisiana. Monday evening, the city’s first mayor, police chief and aldermen were sworn in.“From collecting signatures door to door, on street corners and in parking lots ... You persevered through it all,” Mayor Dustin Yates said.Yates, along with Chief of Police Todd Morris and five aldermen were appointed by Governor Jeff La

Gov. Landry signs bill applies 'best practices' to state economic development

BATON ROUGE - Governor Jeff Landry signed new legislation Tuesday aiming to overhaul Louisiana's economic development model and create jobs in the state. SB 494, dubbed the "Positioning Louisiana to Win" bill, establishes a private sector-led board designed to establish policies, programs, and initiative to draw businesses to the state. The agency will also "operate at the speed of business," a press release from the governor's office said, as it will be exempt from state procurement a

LSU Football will begin season, conference play on WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - ESPN has announced the approximate start time for LSU football's first three games, including the start of their conference play. In week one, LSU will play USC in Las Vegas on Sept. 1 starting at 6:30 p.m. on ABC Channel 2. Week two will see LSU against Nicholls for their home opener on Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.Lastly, LSU will start their conference play against South Carolina on Sept. 14 at 11 a.m., also on WBRZ. Permalink| Comments

LSU Football will begin season, conference play on Channel 2

BATON ROUGE - ESPN has announced the approximate start time for LSU football's first three games, including the start of their conference play. In week one, LSU will play USC in Las Vegas on Sept. 1 starting at 6:30 p.m. on ABC Channel 2. Week two will see LSU against Nicholls for their home opener on Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.Lastly, LSU will start their conference play against South Carolina on Sept. 14 at 11 a.m., also on Channel 2. Permalink| Comments

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Senator says odds of vehicle ferry for Grosse Tete bridge 'very slim'

GROSSE TETE - A state senator is frustrated with the seeming "snail's pace" that repairs for the Grosse Tete bridge seem to be taking almost a week after a boat hit it and, in a moment, created an hour-long detour. Though repairs for the bridge are estimated to take between three and six months, a decrease from Monday's estimate of six to eight, transportation across the Port Allen Lock will be at nearly a standstill. State Senator Caleb Kleinpeter said a pedestrian ferry is i

Ponchatoula police, hit by impromptu strike last month, to lose 2 positions, chief says

PONCHATOULA — The Ponchatoula police chief said Tuesday that the mayor and city council have adopted a budget that will cost his agency two positions. The move comes a month after some officers engaged in an impromptu strike.Chief Bry Layrisson said that the increases in his agency budget — $197,000 — will be offset by extra expenses. Required payments for city benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits, workers compensation, holiday pay and other insur

Ponchatoula police chief says new city budget cuts equivalent of 2 spots from his agency

PONCHATOULA — The Ponchatoula police chief said Tuesday that the mayor and city council have adopted a budget that will cost his agency two positions. The move comes a month after some officers engaged in an impromptu strike.Chief Bry Layrisson said that the increases in his agency budget — $197,000 — will be offset by extra expenses. Required payments for city benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits, workers compensation, holiday pay and other insur

Hunter Biden convicted on all charges in gun trial

Hunter Biden has been convicted of all three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018 when, prosecutors argued, the president’s son lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.Permalink| Comments

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US gas prices are falling. Experts point to mild demand at the pump ahead of summer travel

NEW YORK (AP) — Gas prices are once again on the decline across the U.S., bringing some relief to drivers now paying a little less to fill up their tanks.The national average for gas prices on Monday stood around $3.44, according to AAA. That’s down about 9 cents from a week ago — marking the largest one-week drop recorded by the motor club so far in 2024. Monday’s average was also more than 19 cents less than it was a month ago and over 14 cents below th

2une In Previews: Juneteenth, Father's Day celebration in Iberville Parish

PLAQUEMINE - this Sunday, stop by the Carl F. Grant Civic Center for the inaugural Juneteenth and Father's Day Celebration in Iberville Parish. There will be live performances all afternoon and into the evening starting at 4 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite.com. For more information and a preview of what to expect, watch the video above!Permalink| Comments

East Baton Rouge community invited to tour parish prison Tuesday

BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and Juvenile Detention Center Task Force are inviting members of the community to take part in a tour of the EBR Parish Prison.They say the event aims to provide the public with a better understanding of the operations and conditions of the local prison.All community members ages 10 and up are invited to see the inner workings of the prison, meet with staff, and gain insight into the many challenges within the facility starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday

East Baton Rouge community invited to tour parish prison

BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and Juvenile Detention Center Task Force are inviting members of the community to take part in a tour of the EBR Parish Prison.They say the event aims to provide the public with a better understanding of the operations and conditions of the local prison.All community members ages 10 and up are invited to see the inner workings of the prison, meet with staff, and gain insight into the many challenges within the facility starting at 10 a.m..Registr

River Center Steering Committee will determine new direction for the event center

BATON ROUGE - The Downtown Development District will meet Tuesday morning to discuss of slew of issues, but one of which may determine a new direction for the River Center. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome posted ideas at brla.gov/rivercenterproposal and noted that Baton Rouge is far behind its peers in establishing a campus that can hold regional conventions. While Baton Rouge does have hotels that can host conventions, it is one of the largest cities in the coun

Proposed River Center Steering Committee will determine new direction for the event center

BATON ROUGE - The Downtown Development District will meet Tuesday morning to discuss of slew of issues, one of which being the proposed committee who will paint a new direction for the River Center. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome posted ideas at brla.gov/rivercenterproposal and noted that Baton Rouge is far behind its peers in establishing a campus that can hold regional conventions. While Baton Rouge does have hotels that can host conventions, it is one of the

Body of child who never resurfaced from neighborhood pond recovered early Tuesday morning

PRAIRIEVILLE - First responders in Ascension Parish recovered a child's body after he went into a pond Monday afternoon and never resurfaced. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said a child went into the water in the Keystone Subdivision around 5:45 p.m. First responders recovered the body around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.The following statement was sent Monday evening: Our community is facing a heartbreaking situation tonight. Deputies with this Sheriff’s Offic

Two children hit by car in University Club subdivision taken to hospital

BATON ROUGE - Two children who were hit by a car Monday afternoon in the University Club neighborhood were taken to a hospital. First responders said the incident happened just before 7 p.m. along Memorial Tower Drive. Both of the children were taken to a hospital, one with serious injuries and another in stable condition. No more information about the incident was released. Permalink| Comments

First responders searching for child who went into pond, never resurfaced

PRAIRIEVILLE - First responders in Ascension Parish are searching for a child who went into a pond Monday afternoon and never resurfaced. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said a child went into the water in the Keystone Subdivision around 5:45 p.m. First responders have been searching for the child since. No more information was immediately available. Permalink| Comments

First responders recover body of child who went into pond, never resurfaced

PRAIRIEVILLE - First responders in Ascension Parish recovered a child's body after he went into a pond Monday afternoon and never resurfaced. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said a child went into the water in the Keystone Subdivision around 5:45 p.m. First responders recovered the body around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.The following statement was sent Monday evening: Our community is facing a heartbreaking situation tonight. Deputies with this Sheriff’s Offic

WATCH: Bull named 'Party Bus' escapes Oregon rodeo, triggering a brief panic; 3 hurt

SISTERS, Ore. (AP) — A rodeo bull hopped a fence surrounding an Oregon arena and ran through a concession area into a parking lot, injuring at least three people before wranglers caught up with it, officials said.The crowd at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in the city of Sisters was singing along with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” on Saturday night, most with their cellphone flashlights on, as the bull ran around the arena before what was to be the final

Grosse Tete Bridge closure calls for new methods of transportation for residents

PLAQUEMINE - Crews are working to build a vehicle ferry after the Gross Tete Bridge was damaged four days ago and is not expected to be repaired until 2025. On June 6, a tugboat barreled into the drawbridge and caused significant damage to the structure. WBRZ reported that the bridge will be closed for at least three months for repairs.Monday, WBRZ learned that parts of the 60-year-old bridge cannot be replaced, as they are not manufactured anymore, and the repair process could take an

Franklin police say man taken into custody following attack with a chain saw

FRANKLIN — Franklin Police said they took a man into custody Monday on a second-degree battery accusation, alleging he attacked a man with a chain saw.The victim was airlifted to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries, the agency said.Police said Albert Mitchell was charged with aggravated second-degree battery. Online jail records Monday did not have him listed as an inmate.Permalink| Comments

Circle K acknowledges accidentally selling bad gas during major promotion last month

BATON ROUGE — Some motorists who took advantage of Circle K's 40-cents-off promotion last month received an unwanted extra: Water in their gas tank.The company acknowledged Monday that it was responsible for accidentally delivering watered-down gasoline on the day it ran a major promotion ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Many drivers had gone on social media to complain about what happened to their vehicles."The car troubles experienced by some customers who purchased fuel at our st

REPORT: Former LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri headed to South Carolina

BATON ROUGE - Former LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is expected to be the next head coach for South Carolina's baseball team, a report said. According to Kendall Rogers, Mainieri is expected to fill Mark Kingston's role with the Gameco*cks. On June 3, South Carolina announced that Kingston would not be returning for the 2025 season. Kingston has led the team for the past six seasons. In 2024, South Carolina was ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation but finished the regular se

Broome weighs in following WBRZ reports of arrest of man on West Roosevelt Street

BATON ROUGE — The mayor-president said Monday that, after a series of WBRZ reports on the May 21 arrest of a man in Old South Baton Rouge, she had reviewed body-camera video from the scene and that the city would "give answers to the public" as quickly as possible.The Baton Rouge Police Department took more than two weeks to release video recorded by responding officers. The tapes released Friday showed officers responding to a ShotSpotter activation and finding Roderick Veal asleep i

Mobile home that caught on fire reportedly had no working smoke detectors

BAYOU VISTA - A mobile home caught fire Sunday night, and it was later found the home did not have working smoke detectors. The Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department said engines were called to the scene on Bowen Lane shortly before 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the house, and the home was heavily damaged. There were no reports of injuries from the homeowner or any of the firefighters. The cause of the fire was not immediately c

Bayou Vista mobile home that caught on fire had no working smoke detectors, agency says

BAYOU VISTA - A mobile home caught fire Sunday night, and it was later found the home did not have working smoke detectors. The Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department said engines were called to the scene on Bowen Lane shortly before 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the house, and the home was heavily damaged. There were no reports of injuries from the homeowner or any of the firefighters. The cause of the fire was not immediately c

Zachary Park closing through Thursday so crews can install base for 'all-inclusive' slide

ZACHARY — Zachary city officials are closing the HugYourPeople Community Park through Thursday so it can install concrete that will support an "all-inclusive" slide.The new slide project follows a $100,000 appropriation from the Legislature."This funding will enable us to install all-inclusive playground equipment, including a new slide that allows children of all abilities to play and enjoy themselves independently," Mayor David McDavid said. "This project is a significant step towar

Suspect sought after allegedly setting fire to Denham Springs High School

DENHAM SPRINGS - The English hall at DSHS was severely damaged after a fire that happened at the end of May, and now investigators are looking for a suspect. The Office and the State Fire Marshal as well as the Denham Springs Police Department are searching for a suspect who is believed to have entered campus on a bicycle at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, May 26. The fire was contained to the English hall, but damages are expected to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anyone

Ochsner Medical Center first to receive latest in robotic surgery tech

BATON ROUGE - The Ochsner Medical Centers in New Orleans and the capital city have received the latest in robotic surgery technology: the da Vinci 5. The da Vinci system transfers a surgeon's hand movements into robotic arms for a higher degree of precision and minimal invasiveness. The system also allows the surgeon to feel the same amount of pressure being used by the robotic arms. The new system will be used for minimally-invasive procedures in urology, gynecology, and gene

New law will implement stricter penalties on ankle monitoring companies

BATON ROUGE - Governor Landry signed a bill that enforces stricter punishments for ankle monitoring companies. Failure to report violations to law enforcement can lead to fines, an imprisonment of six months, and the inability to work in the field for up to five years. The decision stems from the case of Marshall Rayburn, who repeatedly breached his ex wife's home after she filed a restraining order. He shot and killed Peggy Rayburn before killing himself. All of this occurred while he